TRWSB – Chapter 236 The Fight to Save a Brother

Qi Shaorong looked at the disheartened Sindorei and asked, “Is it resolved? Are you alright?”

Sindorei shook his head. “I’m fine, but the illness seems to be spreading in the tribe. I don’t know what it will become later.”

“Was your brother the first to fall ill?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Sindorei shook his head again. “No. There were two others before him. But the priest secretly had them killed and claimed they were killed by beasts.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “I see.” He thought to himself: That priest has some tricks up his sleeve.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s go find some herbs,” Qi Shaorong said.

Sindorei nodded, a bit more energized. “Alright.”

The wilds were crawling with snakes, bugs, and rodents. Having been in a world of magic and combat aura for so long, Qi Shaorong found the primitive world deeply uncomfortable.

“This place is strange. Just walking a few steps feels exhausting,” Qi Shaorong complained.

Zhuang Hao glanced at him and said, “Gravity here is heavier. People who live here long term probably have stronger physiques.”

Qi Shaorong smirked mockingly. Stronger physique? Doesn’t stop them from catching disease, does it?

Sindorei looked at Qi Shaorong with concern. “Healer, do you think you can cure my brother?”

Qi Shaorong replied helplessly, “All I can say is, I’ll try my best.”

Sindorei’s face tightened, looking grim.

“How strong are you in your tribe?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Sindorei furrowed his brows. “I’m only thirteen. Not strong enough yet. My brother used to be a totem warrior, one of the best in our tribe.” He spoke with a trace of pride at the mention of Fred.

Qi Shaorong: “…” Thirteen? This kid’s already built like a tank. What the heck are they feeding you?

“Totem warrior?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Yes. In our Flying Tiger Tribe, those who can resonate with a totem can become totem warriors,” Sindorei explained.

Yi Fan and Zhuang Hao exchanged looks, surprised.

“There’s someone up ahead,” Zhuang Hao said.

Sindorei frowned. “Wait here. I’ll go check.”

He returned shortly after and said, “We need to go. Now.”

“What happened?” Qi Shaorong asked, noticing Sindorei’s tense expression.

Sindorei muttered, “It’s nothing. Ah Hao was right—three warriors are attacking a lion-leopard hybrid. Jesse is with them.”

“The guy who wanted your brother burned alive?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Sindorei nodded, his face darkening. “I think he saw me. But he’s busy with the beast. If not, he might’ve captured me to find out where my brother is.”

Zhuang Hao said urgently, “Let’s move. They’re heading this way.”

Knowing Zhuang Hao’s gift for foresight, Sindorei immediately agreed.

——

Qi Shaorong was boiling medicine for Fred using a clay pot.

Yi Fan asked curiously, “How long will it take for this to work?”

“If it’s the right remedy, it should show effect in two days,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Yi Fan nodded. “Good.”

With magic and combat aura unusable here, their strength was severely limited. If Fred recovered, he might be able to help them—assuming he was willing.

Sindorei approached, looking both nervous and hopeful. “Is the medicine ready?”

“Almost. Just a bit more,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Sindorei nodded, but couldn’t help frowning.

Qi Shaorong looked at him and asked, “Something on your mind? You look worried.”

“No, nothing,” Sindorei said.

Qi Shaorong tilted his head skeptically. “Really?”

Sindorei mumbled, “My brother’s fiancée is going to marry Jesse. I don’t know if I should tell him.”

Qi Shaorong looked at him and said, “She’s marrying someone else? That’s tough. But look at it this way—he’ll recover, be single again, and free to pursue someone better.”

Sindorei muttered, “But he really liked Mier…”

Qi Shaorong curled his lip. “Soon as your brother got into trouble, she jumped ship. Shows her true colors. Your brother has poor taste.”

Sindorei: “…”

“The medicine’s ready. Take it to your brother,” Qi Shaorong said.

Sindorei nodded gratefully. “Okay.”

He returned from Fred’s cave shortly after, having been sent out almost immediately.

“Did your brother drink the medicine?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“I don’t know. He kicked me out as soon as I went in. I left the medicine inside,” Sindorei replied.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Sindorei looked at him and asked, “Healer, when will my brother get better?”

Qi Shaorong sighed. “You can’t rush hot tofu—be patient.”

Zhuang Hao furrowed his brow. “Someone’s coming.”

Sindorei frowned. “You guys better hide.” He was frustrated—he thought this place was secluded enough. Apparently not.

Zhuang Hao, Qi Shaorong, and the others hadn’t been hiding for long when Jesse appeared.

There were several people following behind Jesse, and seeing this group of unwelcome visitors made Sindorei feel bleak.

“Jesse, what are you doing here?” Sindorei asked coldly.

“Sindorei, where is your brother?”

“Where my brother is, is none of your business.” Sindorei glared at Jesse with hatred.

Jesse spoke earnestly, “Sindorei, your brother has already been possessed by an evil spirit. If we don’t kill him, it’s only a matter of time before the spirit infects you too.”

“Stop spouting nonsense!” Sindorei said angrily. “My brother is just sick. He will get better.”

Jesse frowned and said, “Sindorei, stop being so stubborn. Because you helped your brother escape, someone else in the tribe has already been possessed by the evil spirit.”

Sindorei snapped, “I already took my brother away. Even if someone else in the tribe is possessed, it has nothing to do with him. Jesse, my brother once saved your life! Now you’ve taken Mill, and you still want to kill him? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”

Jesse’s expression changed, showing signs of shame and anger. “Sindorei, stop talking nonsense! These are two different things. Your brother has already been possessed — he’s no longer the same person. If you keep letting emotions cloud your judgment, it will only lead to your own destruction.”

Sindorei furrowed his brow and stared coldly at Jesse.

“If you insist on staying with your brother and aren’t afraid of being infected, fine,” Jesse said, “but this is tribal territory. You can’t stay here.”

Sindorei was full of resentment. He thought to himself: Jesse is clearly making things difficult. This area is never patrolled during hunts.

“Jesse is right,” someone behind Jesse said. “Your brother has been possessed. He’s no longer a warrior of the tribe. You’d best leave him behind.”

Sindorei clenched his teeth, grief and indignation flashing in his eyes. “We’ll move… Just give us a few days.”

Jesse looked at him with a condescending air and said, “We’re from the same tribe — I don’t want to go too far. I’ll give you three days.”

Sindorei gritted his teeth. “Thank you.”

……

After seeing Jesse and his group off, Sindorei looked downcast.

He returned to the cave and said to Qi Shaorong and the others, “You all heard it.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “We did.”

“Three days. Can my brother recover in that time?” Sindorei asked.

“I just checked on him. He’s already improving. He should be able to walk in three days,” Qi Shaorong said.

Sindorei let out a breath of relief, looking slightly more energetic. “That’s good. I’ll go check on him.”

He quickly took the medicine into Fred’s cave. Fred was half-sitting up, and much of the despair on his face had faded.

“Brother, you’re up!”

Fred smiled at him and, unlike before, didn’t immediately try to drive him away.

“You’ve worked hard,” Fred said.

Sindorei scratched his head awkwardly. “It wasn’t hard, brother.”

“Mill and Jesse… are they getting married?” Fred asked.

Sindorei looked at him in surprise. “Big brother, you knew?”

Fred nodded. “Yes.”

He closed his eyes. Mill was one of the rare beauties in the tribe, and many had pursued her. When she accepted his courtship, Fred had been overjoyed. Over the years, he had done everything to meet her needs.

Even when she wanted snow-melt fruit from the eagle territory in the high mountains, he went out of his way to get it for her. He never expected that the woman he gave his heart to would so quickly fall into the arms of his sworn brother once he fell ill. And that same brother was now the one advocating to burn him alive.

“Brother, Jesse has always been jealous of you. This is clearly personal revenge,” Sindorei muttered, head down. He thought: both Fred and Jesse were tribal warriors, but Fred was better liked. That must’ve been why Jesse grew envious.

Fred frowned and waved his hand. “Enough, don’t say any more.”

The illness had taken a heavy toll on him. Fred couldn’t forget how those he once called brothers now looked at him as if he were a monster. Even though he understood their reasoning, he still felt deeply hurt.

“How are you feeling, brother?” Sindorei asked.

Fred smiled. “Much better. The doctor you found is very capable.”

Fred had sensed something unusual about Qi Shaorong from the start and had secretly worried that his brother was being deceived.

Sindorei smiled. “Doctor Qi is truly remarkable.”

He thought to himself: this outsider is far better than the tribe’s shaman. When people fall ill in the tribe, they can only rely on the shaman, but more often than not, the shaman can’t even heal them.